Greatness Describes
Brett Favre’s Season
More than 20 years ago on a spring afternoon Boston’s
Larry Bird was so magnificent in a playoff game against Atlanta
that it prompted CBS broadcaster Brent Musburger to remark,
“Folks, you’re watching what greatness is all about.” Today you can
dust off the soundtrack of that comment and use it to describe the
season that Brett Favre finished yesterday for the Vikings.
The Vikings, who had lost three of their previous four
games, were desperate for a final regular season win to provide
confidence and momentum for the playoffs ahead. The team that had
reached early December with just one loss saw its momentum and possible guarantees
of home field advantage throughout the playoffs slip away with one-sided
losses to Arizona and Carolina, and then an overtime defeat in Chicago.
Those losses weren’t on Favre, though, who played
consistently, often brilliantly, throughout the 16 game schedule. The
offensive line abandoned him at times, his receivers occasionally
dropped passes, and even the all-world running back Adrian Peterson
gave away the Bears game with his fumble in overtime.
The defense also faltered during the year. Injuries
contributed to the problem but lack of performance did, too, including
in the secondary where the Vikings broke down covering passes.
If any sport is a team game, it’s football. But seldom (if
ever) in Vikings history, has one player meant more to the team’s
success. Disappointed in the team losing three of its last five games
and finishing 12-4? Well, what do you suppose the record would have
been without Favre?
Favre’s final seconds miracle pass to Greg Lewis
beat San Francisco, 27-24. He threw three touchdown passes (21 of 29
passing) as the Vikings won in a close game against Baltimore, 33-31. It's
not likely, either, that without Favre the Vikings would have defeated
Green Bay twice and almost rallied last week against the Bears who led
16-0 at halftime.
Then there was yesterday when Favre completed 25 of 31
passes for 316 yards and four touchdowns before he went to the bench and
ended his day in a 44-7 victory over New York, a must win game. Favre had directed the Vikings
to a 31-0 halftime lead, among the largest in franchise history.
Combining the second half of the Bears game and first half against the
Giants, Favre had led his team to 61 points.
At age 40, Favre was named to his third consecutive Pro
Bowl, all with different teams. His stats for the season were
almost stunning. He threw only seven interceptions, the best of
his career as a starting NFL quarterback dating back to 1992. His
passing rating
of 107.2 was also a career best, and only three previous times did
he ever total more than the 33 touchdown passes of this
season.
Remarkably, Favre played the entire season without being
injured enough to miss time on the field. He performed with passion,
often displaying as much exuberance as teammates 15 years younger.
He worked the locker room and the sidelines developing rapport with
teammates.
But it is on the field, of course, where he made his most
important contributions. Favre sees the game not only as a player,
but also like a
coach where his experience is so valuable. Vikings head coach Brad Childress
hinted at that last week when he said that Favre
“had pretty good license to go back and forth” regarding changing plays.
In the game yesterday Favre threw a pass to Bernard Berrian
who appeared not to have control of the ball before going out of
bounds. Favre hurried the team to the line of scrimmage so the Vikings
could get off another play before there was time for a review of
Berrian’s catch and a possible incomplete pass ruling by the
officals.
Sometimes it was not only doing his job, but helping to
transform others like wide receiver Sidney Rice from obscurity to
the Pro Bowl roster. But Favre has helped all the receivers and the
Vikings have six players, including running backs, with 40 or more
catches for the season.
What does that say about Favre and the
offense? “I
think it speaks to both,” Childress said. “It speaks to him being an
equal opportunity thrower. I think sometimes there’s a perception that
he singles out Sidney Rice. …As I always say, he (Favre) knows where
all the bones are buried.”
Now Favre will take his old bones and try to help the
Vikings to a playoff win in two weeks. Win or lose, he’s
already given this town a season long performance that people should describe for years to come as “what greatness is all about.”
